Income Guidelines

Properties with affordable housing can have different affordability levels. This chart provides an overview of rent levels and maximum household income levels at different affordability levels. This chart can be used with the information in the apartment lists to determine approximate rent levels and maximum incomes for different properties. 

For all 'affordable' housing described on this website, eligibility is at least partially based on household income. You must be willing to provide household income information to the property manager. Different types of affordable housing will have different income limits for different size units, and your household income cannot exceed those limits. While different developments have different income limits, all use a similar process for measuring your income. They compare your income to the median (average) household income in King County for a household your size. Your income will then be determined to be a certain percentage of the King County (or Seattle Metropolitan Statistical Area) Median Income. 

To calculate your income as a percentage of the King County Median Income do the following:

  • First Step: Determine your gross household annual income
  • Second Step: Determine your household size
  • Third Step: In the chart below, determine the median income for your household size
  • Fourth Step: Divide your gross household annual income by the median income for your household size. This is your household income in terms of the King County Median Income. See example below.

Determining Your Household Income

2018 Median Income Guidelines By Household Size

1 Person

2 Person

3 Person

4 Person

5 Person

6 Person

2018 Median Income

$72,380

$82,720

$93,060

$103,400

$111,672

$119,944

Following is an example on how to estimate Household Income and household income as a percent of King County Median Income.

Example
Household has two adults with two children (under 18 years old). One adult receives social security benefits of $955 per month and the other adult has a full time job 40 hours/week paying $15.00/hour.

First Step: Determine your gross household annual income:

Adult 1 $955 per month X 12 months = $11,460

Adult 2 $15/hour X 40 hours/week X 52 weeks/year = $31,200

Total  $11,460 + $31,200 = $42,660

Second Step: Determine your household size 4

Third Step: Determine the median income for your household size on the above chart.

$103,400

Fourth Step: Divide your gross household annual income by the median income for your household size. This is your household income in terms of the King County Median Income.

$42,660/$103,400 = .41 or 41% of Median